Prospect Spotlight: Josh Brinkerhoff (2017)
Josh Brinkerhoff knew when his team was playing together this summer during a tournament in San Diego that a special season for D’Evelyn was possible. He noticed how tight the group was and how well they had formed a chemistry.…
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Continue ReadingJosh Brinkerhoff knew when his team was playing together this summer during a tournament in San Diego that a special season for D’Evelyn was possible.
He noticed how tight the group was and how well they had formed a chemistry. Plus, many of the players who would comprise the team’s core had gone 18-1 as a junior-varsity squad the year before.
“I had a feeling we had a chance to be pretty good,” Brinkerhoff said.
The senior point guard’s predictions have played out this season for the Jaguars, who are 15-3 and 8-1 in the 4A JeffCo League. They will play Valor Christian, which sports the same 8-1 league record, in a battle for first place in the JeffCo League on Saturday.
The winner will have a huge leg up in the race for the league title. D’Evelyn already has a win over the Eagles to its credit this season.
“We’re really excited,” Brinkerhoff said. “We know Valor is going to come out prepared. The first time I think most of our opponents didn’t know we for real because we lost six seniors and none of our juniors got significant playing time. So I think nobody knew we were as good as we knew we were. We definitely Valor Christian is excited and will come in prepared.”
Brinkerhoff is one of the those juniors from a season ago who have made a big impact know that they have reached the varsity level. The 6-1 guard is averaging 12.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists while establishing himself this season as one of the league’s better defenders.
“Josh is a talented player who plays with energy on both ends of the court,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Zinn said. “He is able to create his own shot, get to the rim or catch and shoot with confidence. On the defensive end he can lock down his opponent and force turnovers when needed.”
Brinkerhoff landed on our most recent edition of ranked Colorado seniors, his stock rising seemingly each time he takes the court. He’s hoping he can parlay his big senior season into an opportunity to play college basketball, something that he says has been a dream of his for years.
The guard said he is open to beginning his career at a junior college as he continues to grow his skill set.
As for what he thinks he could bring to a college program?
“I think I’m good with the ball,” he said. “I can take it up the court and am good at getting past the press. I think I’m good passer throughout the court and I like to make the teammates around me better. I’m tenacious on defense and I think one of my biggest strengths is attacking the basket.”
We saw all these skills on display when we caught Brinkerhoff during D’Evelyn’s win over Golden two weeks ago. He seems to have the tools to make it as a small-college guard at the next level.
For now, he’s focused on his team’s huge game Saturday night.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Brinkerhoff said.